DESCENT TOWARDS BENGAL. 



287 



Abies spinulosa commences : and is soon succeeded by Pinus pen- 

 dula, which, as we proceeded lower, soon became the chief tree ; 

 Rhododendron obovata finely in flower, Lilium giganteum common, 

 Trillium atratum, Ribes lacineat. 



Q. ilecifolia re-appears 500 or 600 feet below the ridge, Pinus 

 spinulosa common, with a Salix, grey pendulous lichens. 



At 6,000 feet, P. pendula, Mespilus microphyllus, Larix, Rumex, 

 which has occurred throughout, Salvia alia viscosa foliis subhastatis 

 trilobis, Cycnium, Astragaloides ! bracteis subvaginant magnis, Rosa 

 latispina becomes very common. 



At 8,800 feet, Hedera, Hamiltonia re-appears, Galium sp., Juncus, 

 Oxlip, Clematis, Salix, very common. 



At 8,500 feet, a village is seen to the right ; Q. ilecifolia is the chief 

 tree, with P. pendula, Azalea, Baptisia, Pomacea of Rydang, Rhodo- 

 dendron arbor, minus. Red-legged crow, pine chatterers. 



At 8,000 feet, Baptisia continues ; all alpine vegetation ceased ; 

 Rhododendron minus continues, Q. ilecifolia, but no Corydalis, Ane- 

 mone, Iris, etc. although Oxlip does ; Salix continues. 



The descent to the halting place is marked by return to the old 

 vegetation indicated by re- appearance of Ebeagnus fragrans and Rosa 

 tetrapetala, Valeriana violifolia. 



Baptisia rotundifolia and oblonga, this last a tree very common, 

 Pinus pendula chief tree, Pomacea celastufolia, Elaeagnus fragrans, 

 Rosa tetrapetala, very common along the nullah, Baptisia continues 

 low down, as Oxlip, Stauntonia alba, Viburnum, Asteroides, Jasmi- 

 num luteum, Tussilago, Spiraea bella, found about the level of this. 



All the monocotyledons have a defined elevation ; Smilacina cordi- 

 folia is the lowest, except Uvularia, Lilacinese and Trillium, are the 

 highest, not being found much under 10,000 feet. There is an 

 Osmundia likewise on the ridge, the fronds below are not contracted, 

 it is ferrugineo-tomentosa. Hemiphragma has a wide range, between 

 6 and 10,000 feet : Salvia nubigena of Royle, confined to 10,000 feet, 

 Aconitum, Corydalis lutea, lenella and caerulea, Prunus penduliflora, 

 Papaveracea, Juniperus, Rhododendron obovata, Silacinea, Cerasus 

 apetala, Ribes 2, are sure signs of elevation. 



If the Mimulus be the same as that from Punukha, it has a very 

 wide- range, as also Lilium giganteum, Pythonium filiformeis, limited, 

 as well as ecaudata, Crucifera, Anemone, Laurinea, Polytrichium, 

 were all definite. Mitella ranges between 9 and 9,500 feet, it is 

 strange that the chief variety in vegetation occurred on the Telagoung 



